Politics
4 GOP Senators Betray Trump On Key Resolution
President Donald Trump unloaded on Truth Social after four Senate Republicans joined Democrats in backing a symbolic resolution aimed at limiting his military authority in Iran.
The Senate voted Tuesday to approve a House-passed measure instructing Trump to halt U.S. military operations against Iran unless Congress formally authorizes the action.
The vote does not immediately change Trump’s military campaign, but it delivered a sharp political rebuke as the president pushes ahead with his Iran strategy.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky joined most Democrats in voting for the war powers resolution.
The measure passed 50-48, marking the first time since the start of the Iran conflict that such a resolution has cleared both chambers of Congress.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the lone Democrat to vote against the resolution, siding with Trump’s position on the military campaign.
Hours later, Trump lashed out at the Republicans who broke ranks, calling them “losers.”
‘These Senators have just made my job more difficult, but I will get it done, one way or the other, because I always get it done!’
The measure was introduced earlier this month in the House by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, a Democrat from New York.
It directs the president to ‘remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war or authorizes the use of military force.
The vote underscores growing tension inside the Republican Party over Trump’s handling of Iran in the run-up to the midterm elections this fall.
While Trump remains the dominant force in the GOP, the vote showed that a small but consequential group of Senate Republicans is willing to challenge him on war powers.
The split comes as Donald Trump has refused to endorse some Republican incumbents seeking reelection after they failed to fully back his agenda.
RELATED: NEW: Trump’s SAVE America Act Roars Back To Life After Key Senator Flips Vote
That hardball strategy has already shaken up GOP leadership, including the political standing of Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who had a record of voting with Trump 99% of the time.
Trump is also reportedly frustrated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota after the chamber failed to deliver the votes needed to pass the president’s SAVE America Act.
Those tensions are expected to surface Wednesday when Trump heads to the Capitol to dine with members of the Senate GOP Steering Committee.
RELATED: JUST IN: Red State AG Wins GOP Gubernatorial Primary
The meeting could become a pressure cooker, with Trump facing questions about Iran, the party’s legislative strategy and Republican senators who are willing to hand Democrats a messaging win.
For Trump allies, the war powers vote was a needless act of GOP disloyalty at a moment when the White House is trying to project strength abroad.
For the senators who backed it, the resolution was framed as a constitutional check on presidential war-making.
Either way, Trump made clear he is not backing down.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
